Bersatu information chief Razali Idris confirmed the matter, saying that the cessation of their membership was effective May 31, the deadline to sign and return the notices.

“They have lost their membership,” he told FMT.

Yesterday, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said 25 MPs and 58 assemblymen from Bersatu signed and returned their special notices on party loyalty.

Bersatu’s move to ensure party loyalty comes in the wake of six MPs pledging support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and a Selangor assemblyman backing menteri besar Amirudin Shari.

The seven are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang MP), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang MP), Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang MP), Zahari Kechik (Jeli MP), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar MP), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan MP), and Abdul Rashid Asari (state assemblyman for Selat Klang, Selangor).

All seven previously said they would remain loyal to the party despite showing support for the government, explaining that their support was driven by the need for development allocations to serve their constituencies.

Razali said if any representative does not respond to the party’s directive, their membership will automatically cease.

He also confirmed that only the six MPs and the Selat Klang assemblyman had failed to respond to the notice.

This is despite Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal previously saying that a special committee would meet to review the response received from all Bersatu elected representatives to the party’s notice, including the feedback from the seven who pledged support for the unity government.

It was also reported that the seven had submitted their replies to party secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin but they were reportedly deemed unsatisfactory.

Wan Fayhsal was quoted as saying that the feedback from all the party’s elected representatives will be scrutinised by the special committee, which will decide on the next course of action.